LGBT people and Islam

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Trans topics and Islam are influenced by the rulings prescribed by the Qur'an and the teachings of the Islamic prophet Muhammed. The mainstream interpretation of Qur'anic verses and hadith allows sexual acts between members of the same sex. In this, Islam resembles other Abrahamic religions such as Judaism and Christianity.

11th Century North African Qur’ān in the British Museum

Background

The Qur'an cites the story of the "people of Lot" (also known as the Sodomites) who were destroyed by the wrath of Allah because they engaged in homosexual lust. The legal punishment for sodomy has varied among juristic schools: some prescribe capital punishment; while other prescribe a milder discretionary punishment. Homosexual activity is a crime and forbidden in most Muslim-majority countries. In some relatively secular Muslim-majority countries such as Indonesia, Jordan and Turkey this isn't the case. Despite this, homoerotic themes were present in poetry and other literature by some Muslims which celebrated male love, and were more common than expressions of attraction to women.

Writer Irshad Manji, a lesbian herself and a critic of orthodox Islam, is of the opinion that homosexuality is permissible within Islam; however, this remains a minority viewpoint.

Eminent scholars of Islam, such as Sheikh ul-Islam Imam Malik, Imam Shafi amongst others, ruled that Islam disallowed homosexuality and ordained capital punishment for a person guilty of it.

Rulings in the Islamic Law

Homosexual behaviour (Liwat) - or sexual acts between members of the same sex - is considered to be adultery, but having sex with an illicit partner. In Islam A person who performs such actions (Luti) is not regarded as "corrupt" because he challenges the harmony of the sexes and God's creation. Homosexual behaviour is therefore regarded as a revolt against God.

Qur'an

The Qur'an is the central text of Islam, believed by Muslims to be the revelation of God,. The Qur'an proclaims Islam as the "religion of nature," and sanctifies and encourages sexual intercourse within marriage only. The mainstream interpretation of Qur'anic verses explictly condemns homosexual behaviour:

"And as for those who are guilty of an indecency from among your women, call to witnesses against them four (witnesses) from among you; then if they bear witness confine them to the houses until death takes them away or Allah opens some way for them. And as for the two who are guilty of indecency from among your [men], give them both a punishment; then if they repent and amend, turn aside from them; surely Allah is Oft-returning (to mercy), the Merciful."^{[4:15–16 (Translated by Shakir)]}

Homosexual behaviour is further mentioned in the parable of the "people of Lut or Lot" (also known as the Sodomites in Judeo-Christian religious texts) who were destroyed by the wrath of Allah because they repeatedly transgressed the bounds of God. The behaviour of these unbelievers was considered evil in general due to inhospitality and robbery, mistreatment of strangers and rape. It was their homosexual behaviour, however, which was seen as symptomatic of their attitudes:

"And (We sent) Lut when he said to his people: What! do you commit an indecency which any one in the world has not done before you? Most surely you come to males in lust besides females; nay you are an extravagant people. And the answer of his people was no other than that they said: Turn them out of your town, surely they are a people who seek to purify (themselves). So We delivered him and his followers, except his wife; she was of those who remained behind. And We rained upon them a rain; consider then what was the end of the guilty."^{[7:80–84 (Translated by Shakir)]}

"The people of Lut gave the lie to the messengers. When their brother Lut said to them: Will you not guard (against evil)? Surely I am a faithful messenger to you; Therefore guard against (the punishment of) God and obey me: And I do not ask you any reward for it; my reward is only with the Lord of the worlds; What! do you come to the males from among the creatures And leave what your Lord has created for you of your wives? Nay, you are a people exceeding limits. They said: If you desist not, O Lut! you shall surely be of those who are expelled. He said: Surely I am of those who utterly abhor your actions. My Lord! deliver me and my followers from what they do. So We delivered him and his followers all, Except an old woman, among those who remained behind. Then We utterly destroyed the others. And We rained down upon them a rain, and evil was the rain on those warned. Most surely there is a sign in this, but most of them do not believe. And most surely your Lord is the Mighty, the Merciful."^{[26:160–175 (Translated by Shakir)]}

"And (We sent) Lut, when he said to his people: What! do you commit indecency while you see? What! do you indeed approach men lustfully rather than women? Nay, you are a people who act ignorantly. But the answer of his people was no other except that they said: Turn out Lut's followers from your town; surely they are a people who would keep pure! But We delivered him and his followers except his wife; We ordained her to be of those who remained behind. And We rained on them a rain, and evil was the rain of those who had been warned."^{[27:54–58 (Translated by Shakir)]}

"And (We sent) Lut when he said to his people: Most surely you are guilty of an indecency which none of the nations has ever done before you; What! do you come to the males and commit robbery on the highway, and you commit evil deeds in your assemblies? But nothing was the answer of his people except that they said: Bring on us God's punishment, if you are one of the truthful. He said: My Lord! help me against the mischievous people."^{[29:28–30 (Translated by Shakir)]}

The doings of the people of Lut became proverbial, alluding specifically to homosexual behaviour, while the Arabic words for homosexual behaviour and for a person who performs such actions both derive from Lut's name.

Although homosexual behavior is observed among animals, Islam regards human beings as the superior race, expected to take better care and responsibility for their actions, and does not justify human behaviors simply because they exist in animals.

Hadith

The Hadith, which are oral traditions relating to the words and deeds of Muhammad and regarded as important tools for determining the Muslim way of life by all traditional schools of jurisprudence, also contain numerous statements condemning homosexuality.

It was narrated by Jaabir (may Allah be pleased with him): "The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: 'There is nothing I fear for my ummah more than the deed of the people of Loot.'"

It was narrated that Ibn Abbaas said: “The Prophet Muhammed (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "... cursed is the one who has intercourse with an animal, cursed is the one who does the action of the people of Loot."

It was narrated that Ibn Abbaas said: "The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: 'Whoever you find doing the deed of the people of Loot, kill the one who does it and the one to whom it is done.'"

Another Hadith narrative reports Muhammad as having said, "No man should look at the private parts of another man, and no woman should look at the private parts of another woman, and no two men lie naked [in bed] under one cover."

Another widely reported hadith (from Sunan al-Tirmidhi, which is one of the Sunni Six major Hadith collections) reports Prophet Muhammed as having prescribed the death penalty for homosexuality while saying "Whoever you find committing the sin of the people of Lut, kill them, both the one who does it and the one to whom it is done."

Rulings by scholars of Islam

Based on the principles of the Qur'an and the Hadith, several eminent scholars of Islam, such as Imam Malik, Imam Shafi, Ahmad and Ishaaq have ruled that the person guilty of homosexuality should be stoned regardless of his married or unmarried nature.

Ibn Kathir's commentary on the words of Qur'an with respect to homosexuality are,

The words of Allah ‘And the two persons (man and woman) among you who commit illegal sexual intercourse, hurt them both’ mean, those who commit immoral actions, punish them both. Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allah be pleased with him), Sa’eed ibn Jubayr and others said: By condemning them, shaming them and hitting them with shoes. This was the ruling until Allah abrogated it and replaced it with whipping and stoning. ‘Ikrimah, ‘Ata, al-Hasan and ‘Abd-Allah ibn Katheer said: This was revealed concerning a man and woman who commit fornication. Al-Saddi said, it was revealed concerning young people before they get married. Mujaahid said: it was revealed concerning two men if they admit it bluntly; a hint is not sufficient - as if he was referring to homosexuality. And Allah knows best."

Ibn al-Qayyim is reported to have said,

Both of them – fornication and homosexuality – involve immorality that goes against the wisdom of Allah’s creation and commandment. For homosexuality involves innumerable evil and harms, and the one to whom it is done would be better off being killed than having this done to him, because after that he will become so evil and so corrupt that there can be no hope of his being reformed, and all good is lost for him, and he will no longer feel any shame before Allah or before His creation. The semen of the one who did that to him will act as a poison on his body and soul. The scholars differed as to whether the one to whom it is done will ever enter Paradise."

Ahmad Kutty, senior lecturer and Islamic scholar at the Islamic Institute of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, in his lectures on the subject has expressed the view a Muslim practicing homosexuality needs to give it up since it is considered "one of the most abominable sins in Islam". Muslims like Dr. Nadia El-Awady, the Health & Science Editor at IslamOnline, have attempted to discuss and understand homosexuality in an Islamic as well as a scientific light, citing its apparent ill-effects for the Islamic as well as the moral society. The Islamic UK-based group, the Shari'ah Court of the UK has issued a fatwa calling for a death sentence for playwright Terrence McNally for depicting Jesus and his followers as a group of homosexuals.

Many scholars of Shari'a, or Islamic law, interpret homosexuality as a punishable offence as well as a sin. There is no specific punishment prescribed, however, and this is usually left to the discretion of the local authorities on Islam.

However, there do exist some dissenting opinions amongst Ulema. Mohamed El-Moctar El-Shinqiti, a contemporary Mauritanian scholar, has argued that "[even though] homosexuality is a grievous sin...[a] no legal punishment is stated in the Qur'an for homosexuality...[b] it is not reported that Prophet Muhammad has punished somebody for committing homosexuality...[c] there is no authentic hadith reported from the Prophet prescribing a punishment for the homosexuals..." He argues that both hadiths on stoning and killing homosexuals are weak: Hadith scholars such as Al-Bukhari, Yahya ibn Ma`in, An-Nasa'i, Ibn Hazm, Al-Tirmidhi, and others impugned the two hadiths.

Abu Bakr Al-Jassas (d. 370 AD/981 AH) argued that the hadiths on killing homosexuals "are not reliable by any means, and no legal punishment can be prescribed based on them."

References in Arabic and other literature

Arabic Manuscript of The Thousand and One Nights dating back to the 1300s

According to the Encyclopedia of Islam and the Muslim World

Whatever the legal strictures on sexual activity, the positive expression of male homeoerotic sentiment in literature was accepted, and assiduously cultivated, from the late eighth century until modern times. First in Arabic, but later also in Persian, Turkish and Urdu, love poetry by men about boys more than competed with that about women, it overwhelmed it. Anecdotal literature reinforces this impression of general societal acceptance of the public celebration of male-male love (which hostile Western caricatures of Islamic societies in medieval and early modern times simply exaggerate). .... .

In a tradition from the Arabian Nights, Muhammad was said to have warned his followers against staring at youth because of their beauty: "Do not gaze at beardless youth, for they have eyes more tempting than the houris."

Beyond that, despite the ban on homosexuality by mainstream Islam, homosexual practise was generally tolerated, though thinly veiled, in many parts of the Arab/Muslim world, until early modern times, when the emergence of a Westernized elite caused it to be frowned upon. Some observers have compared the status of homsexuality in the premodern Muslim world to its status in Ancient Greece, though the parallel is shaky.

Legal status in modern Islamic nations

Homosexuality is a crime and forbidden in most Islamic countries, Saudi Arabia, Iran, etc. This is not the case in some secular or multi-religious Islamic countries, Albania, Indonesia and Turkey being examples. However, the governments of Albania, Indonesia, and Turkey are presidential representative democratic republics and are not Islamic Republics, like in the case of Iran.

Same-sex intercourse officially carries the death penalty in several Muslim nations: Saudi Arabia, Iran, Mauritania, northern Nigeria, Sudan, and Yemen. It formerly carried the death penalty in Afghanistan under the Taliban. The legal situation in the United Arab Emirates is unclear. In many Muslim nations, such as Bahrain, Qatar, Algeria and the Maldives, homosexuality is punished with jail time, fines, or corporal punishment. In some Muslim-majority nations, such as Turkey, Jordan, Indonesia or Mali, same-sex intercourse is not specifically forbidden by law. In Egypt, openly gay men have been prosecuted under general public morality laws. (See Cairo 52.) On the other hand, homosexuality, while not legal, is tolerated to some extent in Lebanon, and has been legal in Turkey for decades.

In Saudi Arabia, the maximum punishment for homosexuality is public execution, but the government will use other punishments—e.g., fines, jail time, and whipping—as alternatives, unless it feels that homosexuals are challenging state authority by engaging in LGBT social movements. Iran is perhaps the nation to execute the largest number of its citizens for homosexuality. Since the 1979 Islamic revolution in Iran, the Iranian government has executed more than 4,000 people charged with homosexual acts. In Afghanistan after the fall of the Taliban, homosexuality went from a capital crime to one that it punished with fines and prison sentence.

Most international human rights organizations, such as Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, condemn laws that make homosexual relations between consenting adults a crime. Since 1994, the United Nations Human Rights Committee has also ruled that such laws violated the right to privacy guaranteed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. However, most Muslim nations (except for Turkey, which has been ruled by secular law since 1856 and recently has modernized its laws in order to meet the requirements of entry to the European Union) insist that such laws are necessary to preserve Islamic morality and virtue. Of the nations with a majority of Muslim inhabitants, Lebanon has an internal effort to legalize homosexuality, with Jordan having no laws forbidding homosexuality.

Gender variant and transgender people

In Islam, the term mukhannathun is used to describe gender-variant people, usually male-to-female transsexuals. Neither this term nor the equivalent for "eunuch" occurs in the Qur'an, but the term does appear in the Hadith, the sayings of Muhammad, which have a secondary status to the central text. Moreover, within Islam, there is a tradition on the elaboration and refinement of extended religious doctrines through scholarship. This doctrine contains a surprisingly trans-positive passage by the scholar and hadith collector An-Nawawi:

A mukhannath is the one ("male") who carries in his movements, in his appearance and in his language the characteristics of a woman. There are two types; the first is the one in whom these characteristics are innate, he did not put them on by himself, and therein is no guilt, no blame and no shame, as long as he does not perform any (illicit) act or exploit it for money (prostitution etc.). The second type acts like a woman out of immoral purposes and he is the sinner and blameworthy.

Iran carries out more sex change operations than any other nation in the world except for Thailand. It is sanctioned as a supposed "cure" for homosexuality, which is punishable by death under Iranian law. The government even provides up to half the cost for those needing financial assistance and a sex change is recognised on the birth certificate.

Homosexuality laws in Muslim countries

Main article: LGBT rights by country or territory

Country	Laws against homosexuality	Penalty	Same-sex Unions	Laws against discrimination	Adoption
Afghanistan	No	-	No	No	?
? - Unsure if homosexuality is a crime or not since the country is undergoing a period of relative chaos due to the continuing battles between NATO forces and the resurgent Taliban, but the death penalty (imposed under the Taliban) is no longer enforced. The Penal Code from 1976 in force, stipulates long imprisonment for adultery and pederasty. [3] and LGBT rights in Afghanistan.
Albania	No	-	-	No	No
Algeria	Yes	Fine - 3 years	-	No	No
Azerbaijan	No	-	-	No	No
Bahrain	Male only	Fine - 10 years	-	No	No
Bangladesh	Yes	10 years - Life	-	No	No
- LGBT rights in Bangladesh.
Bosnia-Herzegovina	No	-	-	Yes	No
AD in Gender Equality Act since 2003. See LGBT rights in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Brunei	Yes	Fine - 10 years	-	No	No
Burkina Faso	No	-	-	No	No
See LGBT rights in Burkina Faso.
Chad	No	-	-	No	No
See LGBT rights in Chad.
Comoros	No	-	-	No	No
See LGBT rights in Comoros.
Côte d'Ivoire	No	-	-	No	No
Djibouti	Yes	10 – 12 years	-	No	No
See LGBT rights in Djibouti.
Egypt	No*	-	No	No	No
In Egypt, openly gay men have been prosecuted under general public morality laws. (See Cairo 52.) OR?? [4] and LGBT rights in Egypt.
Eritrea	Yes	3 – 10 years	-	No	No
The Gambia	Yes	Fine - 14 years	-	No	No
Guinea	Yes	6 months - 3 years	-	No	No
Guinea Bissau	Yes	Labour camps	-	No	No
Page 17 of [5]
Indonesia	No*	-	-	No	No
*In 2002, the Aceh province was given the right to instate Islamic sharia by laws by the national parliament. Such law only applies to Muslims. Additionally some cites such as Palembang in Southern Sumatra has introduced jail and hefty fines, for homosexual sex and in 2003, a proposal to nationally criminalize homosexuality failed. See LGBT rights in Indonesia.
Iran	Yes	For men: Prison - Death(Only applies to anal sex). Prison for women	-	No	No
Sex reassignment surgery have been given official government support as a means to treat gender identity disorder. Law in Iran, in general, is not formally in order and is often abused by government officials. For many years there were no official executions for homosexuality, although some maintain teenagers Mahmoud Asgari and Ayaz Marhoni executed for this and not for rape.
Iraq	No*	-	-	No	No
*No provisions of the current Iraqi criminal code deal with homosexuality. The U.S. occupation restored the criminal code back to its original 1969 edition. Before 2003, the criminal code was amended in 2001 to include the death penalty for homosexuality. However currently, death squads are operating in the country killing gays. [6] and LGBT rights in Iraq.
Jordan	No*	-	-	No	No
*While not a crime, reports have shown that LGBT people can be victims of vigilante "honour killings". See LGBT rights in Jordan.
Kazakhstan	No	-	-	No	No
See LGBT rights in Kazakhstan.
Lebanon	Male Only	Fine - 1 year	-	No	No
A small public growing campaign exists to legalize homosexual relations between consenting adults in private. See LGBT rights in Lebanon.
Malaysia	Yes	Fine - 20 years	-	No	No
Former Deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who was himself jailed for homosexuality, has called for their repeal. Former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad recently confirmed that the accusation he made to Anwar regarding the homosexuality of Anwar was wrong. Marina Mahathir, the daughter of former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, has called for an end to discrimination based on sexual orientation.[7] However, during Mahathir's term as Prime Minister, he warned gay ministers in foreign countries not to bring along their partners while visiting the nation. [8]. See LGBT rights in Malaysia.
Maldives	Male only	Fine - 10 years	-	No	No
Mali	No	-	-	No	No
See LGBT rights in Mali.
Mauritania	Yes	Death	-	No	No
Morocco	Yes	6 months - 3 years	-	No	No
See LGBT rights in Morocco.
Niger	No	-	-	No	No
See LGBT rights in Niger.
Nigeria	Yes*	5 – 14 years / Death	-	No	No
*Areas under Sharia have instituted death for men and women. Any content, avocating groups or associations, support, talking to, marriage, etc regarding LGBT persons can land you in jail for at least four years [9]. See LGBT rights in Nigeria.
Oman	Yes	Fine - 3 years	-	No	No
In Oman it is said that cases only get to court if "public scandal" is involved.
Pakistan	Yes*	2 years - Life	-	No	No
*The law applies to both men and women [10] and LGBT rights in Pakistan.
Qatar	Yes	Fine - 5 years	-	No	No
Saudi Arabia	Yes	Death - Other	-	No	No
Jail time, fines or whipping may be used in lieu of the death penalty. See LGBT rights in Saudi Arabia
Senegal	Yes	1 month - 5 years	-	No	No
Sierra Leone	Yes	Life	-	No*	No
*The Anti-Corruption Commission stated in a press release that in a bid to attract competent and qualified staff, they operate a transparent recruitment policy, which even forbids discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.
Somalia	Yes*	3 months - 3 years/Death	-	No	No
*Areas under Sharia have instituted death for men and women.
Sudan	Yes	5 years - Death	-	No	No
Syria	Yes	Fine - 3 years	-	No	No
See LGBT rights in Syria.
Tajikistan	No	-	-	No	No
Tanzania	Yes	Fine - 25 years	-	No	No
In Zanzibar male homosexual acts are punished with up to 25 years imprisonment or fine. Lesbian acts are punished with up 7 years imprisonment or fine. See LGBT rights in Tanzania.
Tunisia	Yes	Fine - 3 years	-	No	No
See LGBT rights in Tunisia.
Turkey	No	-	-	No	No
See LGBT rights in Turkey.
Turkmenistan	Male only	Fine - 2 years	-	No	No
United Arab Emirates	Yes	Unknown - Death	-	No	No
See LGBT rights in United Arab Emirates.
Uzbekistan	Male only*	Fine* - 3 years*	-	No	No
*"Besoqolbozlik" (Only applies to anal sex) [11], page 43 of [12].
Yemen	Yes	Flogging - Death	-	No	No

LGBT movements within Islam

The Al-Fatiha Foundation is an organization which advances the cause of gay, lesbian, and transgender Muslims. It was founded in 1998 by Faisal Alam, a Pakistani American, and is registered as a nonprofit organization in the United States. The organization was an out shoot of an internet listserve that brought together many gay, lesbian and questioning Muslims from various countries. The Foundation accepts and considers homosexuality as natural, either regarding Qur'anic verses as obsolete in the context of modern society, or pointing out that the Qu'ran speaks out against homosexual lust, and is silent on homosexual love. In 2001, Al-Muhajiroun, a banned and now defunct international organization who sought the establishment of a global Islamic caliphate, issued a fatwa declaring that all members of Al-Fatiha were murtadd, or apostates, and condemning them to death. Because of the threat and coming from conservative societies, many members of the foundation's site still prefer to be anonymous so as to protect their identity while continuing a tradition of secrecy. Al-Fatiha has fourteen chapters in the United States, as well as offices in England, Canada, Spain, Turkey and South Africa. In addition, Imaan, a social support group for Muslim LGBT people and their families, exists in the UK. Both of these groups were found by gay Pakistani activists. The UK also has the Safra Project for women.

There are also a number of Islamic ex-gay (i.e. people claiming to have experienced a basic change in sexual orientation from exclusive homosexuality to exclusive heterosexuality) groups aimed at attempting to guide homosexuals towards heterosexuality. The StraightWay Foundation is a UK based ex-gay organization which works with homosexual Muslims who seek to eliminate their same-sex attractions. Al-Tawbah is an internet based ex-gay group. It should be noted that the efficacy of ex-gay treatments and therapies has been brought into serious doubt by the American Psychological Association and other academic groups.

While Iran has outlawed homosexuality, Iranian Shi'a thinkers such as Ayatollah Khomeini have allowed for homosexual men and women to change their gender so that they can enter heterosexual relationships. This position has been confirmed by the Supreme Leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and is also supported by many other Iranian clerics. Despite support for transsexuals from Iranian religious leaders, the Iranian society is not as accepting of them. Some transsexuals point out that in Iran transsexuals can change their gender after a sex change operation, a privilege not recognized in Britain. The state will pay a portion of the cost for a sex-change operation.

In India, where Muslims form a large minority, the largest Islamic seminary (Darul Uloom Deoband) has vehemently opposed recent government moves to abrogate and liberalize archaic laws from the British Raj era that banned homosexuality .

See also

• Transsexuality in Iran
• Islamic religious police

Rights activists

• Afdhere Jama, editor of Huriyah
• Irshad Manji, Canadian lesbian and human rights activist
• El-Farouk Khaki, founder of Salaam, the first homosexual Muslim group in Canada
• Arsham Parsi, Iranian LGBT activist
• Maryam Hatoon Molkara, campaigner for transsexual rights in Iran
• Faisal Alam, Pakistani American founder of Al-Fatiha Foundation
• Mahmoud Asgari and Ayaz Marhoni
• Malik Ayaz
• Pav Akhtar, British gay politician
• Usman Sani
• Waheed Alli, Baron Alli, British gay politician
• Yusuf Kabir
• Enchant of Hope
• Abdellah Taia, writer

Other

• A Jihad for Love, documentary about devout gay Muslims
• Festival of Muslim Cultures
• Gay Muslims, documentary
• Ghilman
• Nazar ill'al-murd

References

• Duran, Khalid. Homosexuality in Islam, in: Swidler, Anne (ed.) "Homosexuality and World Religions" (1993). Trinity Press International, Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. ISBN 1-56338-051-X
• Kilgerman, Nicole (2007). Homosexuality in Islam: A Difficult Paradox. Macalester Islam journal 2(3):52-64, Berkeley Electronic press.
• Khaled El-Rouayheb, Before Homosexuality in the Arab–Islamic World, 1500–1800 Chicago, 2009. ISBN 978-0-226-72989-3.
• Everett K. Rowson, J.W. Wright (eds.), Homoeroticism in Classical Arabic Literature New York, 1997
• Arno Schmitt and Jehoeda Sofer (eds.), Sexuality and Eroticism Among Males in Moslem Societies Harrington Park Press 1992
• Arno Schmitt and Gianni de Martino, Kleine Schriften zu zwischenmännlicher Sexualität und Erotik in der muslimischen Gesellschaft, Berlin, Gustav-Müller-Str. 10 : A. Schmitt, 1985
• Stephen O. Murray and Will Roscoe (eds.), "Islamic Homosexualities: culture, history, and literature" NYU Press New York 1997
• Wafer, Jim (1997) "Muhammad and Male Homosexuality" in "Islamic Homosexualities: culture, history, and literature" by Stephen O. Murray and Will Roscoe (eds.), NYU Press New York
• Wafer, Jim (1997) "The Symbolism of Male Love in Islamic Mysthical Literature" in "Islamic Homosexualities: culture, history, and literature" by Stephen O. Murray and Will Roscoe (eds.), NYU Press New York 1997
• Vincenzo Patanè, "Homosexuality in the Middle East and North Africa" in: Aldrich, Robert (ed.) Gay Life and Culture: A World History, Thames & Hudson, London, 2006

External links

• Islam and Homosexuality, a two-volume anthology

• Homosexuality: What is the real sickness? Illustrative Article from AbdurRahman.org
• Islam's Stand on Homosexuality
• Gay Rights: Who are the Real Enemies of Liberation?, Socialist Review
• The StraightWay Foundation (UK)
• Intolerant cruelty This special edition of Diabolic Digest explores the question of homosexuality in the Middle East.
• Islamic law: (much) Theory and (just enough) Practice
• Homosexuality: An Islamic Perspective by Bilal Phillips
• Safra Project — Sexuality, Gender and Islam
• Sodomy in Islamic Jurisprudence (article in German; engl. Summary )
• Sexuality and Eroticism Among Males in Moslem Societies by Arno Schmitt and Jehoeda Sofer (eds.), Harrington Park Press 1992
• Islam and Homosexuality
• Islam and Homosexuality
• Kotb, H.G.: Sexuality in Islam at the Magnus Hirschfeld Archive for Sexology
• Homosexuality in Urdu poetry: Tolerance in medieval India and early Islamic societies